Capitals Let One Slip Away Against Senators

OTTAWA, CANADA - JANUARY 29: Kyle Turris #7 of the Ottawa Senators clears the puck past Mike Green #52 of the Washington Capitals during an NHL game at Scotiabank Place on January 29, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)(Credit: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

OTTAWA — Sergei Gonchar scored on the power play with 2:30 left in regulation as the Ottawa Senators battled back from a sluggish start to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Tuesday.

Jim O’Brien and Milan Michalek also scored for the Senators (4-1-1), who got 31 saves from Craig Anderson.

Troy Brouwer and Matt Hendricks scored for the Capitals (1-4-1). Michal Neuvirth stopped 24 shots in taking the loss for Washington, which blew a 2-0 lead.

Gonchar’s winner came after Erik Karlsson wove through the Capitals’ defense on a man advantage before finding his partner, who fired a one-timer that deflected of Hendricks in front and past Neuvirth with Ottawa’s Chris Neil screening on the play.